More music to add (and restore) to the ol’ collection. Take a gander at the Portrait of an American Family album art—it exemplifies how physical media can form a palpable connection to the music it adorns. “You cannot sedate all the things you hate.” A traditional release of this LP would (should?) absolutely survive in our current digital climate.

Life sucks sometimes, so this is at least the second time I have purchased this fucking album. Hopefully it’s the last time, but I would buy it again if I had to. I also finally picked up Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) ; I’m trying to keep the timeline intact here: I only listened to Mechanical Animals in its entirety a couple years ago. I hear Mr. Manson lost quite a bit of his thunder as the music industry rocketed into the new millenium sans quality assurance safety belts.

It has been a while since a I have checked to see what Trent Reznor has been up to. Whaddaya know—three Nine Inch Nails EPs were waiting for me! Normally I’m not so far behind, but it’s a strange world I live in these days.

Baroness and Slipknot also contribute to the mix. Never been much of a Slipknot fan, but they are growing on me slowly and surely. All this heavy metal is rounded out by inspirational slide guitar by Sonny Landreth and acoustic guitar by Ralph Towner , plus 90s Swedish rock from The Cardigans .

Nine Inch Nails
→ Not the Actual Events
→ Add Violence
→ Bad Witch

Baroness
→ Red Album

Sonny Landreth
→ Elemental Journey

Marilyn Manson
→ Portrait of an American Family
→ Holy Wood

The Cardigans
→ Life

Slipknot
→ All Hope is Gone

Ralph Towner
→ Time Line